The Boston Bruins are one of the NHL’s better puck possession teams, and that was evident in Friday night’s 3-2 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils.

The B’s controlled 54.46 percent of shot attempts in all situations and 56.38 percent of even-strength shot attempts. Here’s a look at the score-adjusted Corsi (all shot attempts) chart from Friday’s game.

Boston has accounted for the majority of even-strength shot attempts in eight of its last nine games, which is among the reasons why the B’s are creating so many scoring chances.

They rank seventh among all teams with a 52.57 Corsi-for percentage at even strength. How important is controlling the majority of shot attempts? Well, every team inside the top 10 of 5-on-5 Corsi-for percentage currently occupies a playoff spot.

As long as the Bruins continue to possess the puck at this rate, the goals should eventually start to come with better luck and better bounces. Boston ranks 24th in the league with an 8.13 shooting percentage, a figure that will likely rise as the season winds down.

— Matt Bartkowski has played well in his last six games since returning to the lineup on Feb. 16 following a 17-game absence as a healthy scratch.

The costly mistakes that resulted in goals against he was making over the first three months of the season have decreased significantly. Bartkowski also is helping the Bruins break out of their own zone better, and we saw an example of that on Daniel Paille’s first-period goal against the Devils.

— Loui Eriksson picked up the primary assist on Paille’s goal and now has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last five games. The Bruins also have controlled more than 55 percent of even-strength shot attempts over the past five games when Eriksson is on the ice.

— Boston’s penalty kill has struggled throughout February. The unit has given up a power-play goal in five of the last six games, including Friday night when Travis Zajac started New Jersey’s third-period comeback with a tally at the 5:57 mark.

— Niklas Svedberg started in net for Boston with Tuukka Rask unable to play with an illness. The Swedish netminder made 29 saves on 31 shots for his sixth win of the season. It was an encouraging performance from Svedberg after he was pulled in two of his last three starts.

— Cory Schneider gave a tremendous performance in the New Jersey net. He battled consistent traffic in front of his crease and still made 31 saves on 34 shots. Schneider rarely had time to take a breath because the Bruins attempted 56 shots overall.

The former Boston College goaltender has appeared in a league-high 53 games this season.

Injuries have forced several young players to play important roles for the Boston Bruins this season, and a few of them led the charge in Friday night’s 3-2 overtime win against the New Jersey Devils.

Ryan Spooner played in his third game since being recalled on Saturday and scored the game-winner nearly three minutes into the overtime period. It was his first career NHL goal in 35 games for the Bruins over the past three seasons. The 23-year-old forward now has two points and nine shots in his last three games.

Per Elias: Ryan Spooner is 1st @NHLBruins player to score the 1st goal of his NHL career in OT since Steve Heinze did so on March 28, 1992.

Spooner has played the majority of his even-strength shifts alongside veteran winger Milan Lucic and rookie forward David Pastrnak since being recalled.

Spooner and Pastrnak bring many of the same skills to the ice — excellent speed, high hockey IQ in the attacking zone, good shot, etc. — which is among the reasons why they’ve displayed good chemistry as linemates.

On the winning goal Friday, Pastrnak patiently waited for Lucic to drive to the net, pull Devils defenseman Adam Larsson with him and open space for Spooner. Spooner received the perfect pass and sniped a wrist shot past Devils goalie Cory Schneider.

Pastrnak was among Boston’s best players on the ice against New Jersey. He led the team with nine shot attempts, five shots on goal and two points. In addition to his assist on Spooner’s tally, Pastrnak scored his seventh goal of the season in the third period.

As the graphic below indicates, the NHL’s youngest player has provided much-needed scoring production over the last nine games.

Torey Krug picked up a secondary assist on Spooner’s overtime goal for his 32nd point of the season.

In fact, the 23-year-old defenseman leads the Bruins with 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in the team’s 23 games since Jan. 1. He’s also played at the point on the team’s new-look No. 1 power-play unit, which has tallied a few goals and created many scoring chances over the last week and a half.

The Bruins will be without veteran center David Krejci for the next four to five weeks, and a few top-nine forwards such as Carl Soderberg (15-game goalless drought), Reilly Smith (three goals in the last 24 games) and Chris Kelly (one goal in the last 11 games) have struggled to consistently score goals over the past two months.

Young players such as Pastrnak, Spooner, Krug and others will need to provide scoring, speed, depth and play important minutes for the Bruins as the team aims to increase its lead for the final wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, which currently stands at four points.

These young players represent a bright future for the Bruins, but they also will make a real impact on the final result of the 2014-15 campaign.

Thumbnail photo via Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports Images

Filed under: Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2015/02/bruins-young-players-play-key-roles-in-overtime-win-vs-devils/feed/00David PastrnaknesnngosspastrnakRyan Spooner Nets First NHL Goal In Bruins’ OT Win Over Devils (Video)http://nesn.com/2015/02/ryan-spooner-scores-first-career-nhl-goal-in-bruins-ot-win-over-devils-video/
http://nesn.com/2015/02/ryan-spooner-scores-first-career-nhl-goal-in-bruins-ot-win-over-devils-video/#commentsSat, 28 Feb 2015 02:47:28 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=449133]]>The Boston Bruins increased their lead to four points over the Florida Panthers for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.

The Bruins will return to TD Garden for the final game of their back-to-back Saturday night against the struggling Arizona Coyotes.

Here are three takeaways from Bruins-Devils:

1. Niklas Svedberg Starts In Net
Tuukka Rask was unable to play against the Devils because of illness, which ended his streak of 18 straight appearances and gave Svedberg his first start since Feb. 10.

Svedberg made 29 saves on 31 shots for a .935 save percentage. His rebound control wasn’t great, but he didn’t give up any soft goals and made a tremendous save on Devils leading scorer Mike Cammalleri late in regulation.

2. Daniel Paille Opens Scoring, B’s Dominate First Period
Daniel Paille returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks after missing the two previous games as a healthy scratch.

He ended a 36-game goalless drought Tuesday and scored another first-period goal Saturday night. His latest tally gave him goals in back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 7, 2014.

Paille’s goal was the highlight of a strong first period for Boston in which it earned a 20-9 shot attempt advantage and a 12-4 edge in shots on goal. The Bruins also used a strong forecheck to create turnovers and generate lots of offensive zone time.

3. Ryan Spooner Scores First Career NHL Goal
The Bruins gave up a 2-0 third-period lead with sloppy defensive play, allowing the Devils to force overtime. But B’s center Ryan Spooner secured two very important points for the Bruins with his first career NHL goal at the 2:46 mark of the OT period. David Pastrnak made a good pass to Spooner in the left faceoff circle and the 23-year-old forward beat Devils goalie Cory Schneider high blocker side.

Spooner has played very well since being recalled to the Bruins last Saturday. He’s giving the B’s much-needed speed in addition to his improved play without the puck.

The Boston Bruins have a difficult stretch of games ahead and finish February with back-to-back contests against two non-playoff teams: The New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes.

They are two winnable games with four important points at stake, and there is no room for error with the Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers trailing the Bruins by two and four points, respectively, for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Boston has struggled in February with a 2-6-2 record and losses in seven of its last eight games. After this back-to-back, the Bruins have matchups against playoff teams in five of their next seven games, including showdowns with top conference contenders such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings.

As for lineup news entering Friday’s game in New Jersey, Bruins head coach Claude Julien didn’t reveal who will start in net. Starting netminder Tuukka Rask missed the morning skate and the team recalled Providence Bruins goaltender Jeremy Smith on an emergency basis.

The Bruins’ lines and pairings are expected to be similar, if not the same, as what was used Tuesday night against the Canucks when the Bruins out-shot and out-chanced Vancouver by a wide margin.

The Boston Bruins start a back-to-back Friday night with their final regular-season game against the New Jersey Devils.

Boston has won both of its previous games against New Jersey this season and desperately needs another victory to maintain its lead for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have just a two-point advantage over the Florida Panthers.

The Devils have won four of their last five games, which temporarily put them back into the playoff race. New Jersey’s ability to seriously contend for a playoff spot took a hit Thursday when it traded leading scorer Jaromir Jagr to the Panthers for two draft picks. The move will allow the Devils to see what they have in younger players and/or veterans who might also be dealt before the March 2 NHL trade deadline.

Here’s a quick preview of Friday night’s game.

TV, Radio Information: NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub

Season Series: 2-0 Bruins (Boston won 4-2 on Nov. 10 and 3-0 on Jan. 8, both at TD Garden)

Bruins Player To Watch: Patrice Bergeron owned the faceoff dot Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks with an 81.5 percent success rate (31-for-38). The Bruins center ranks second among all forwards in faceoff percentage and faceoffs won. He gives the Bruins a strong advantage over a Devils team that ranks 27th in faceoff percentage. Bergeron also has tallied nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last 10 games.

Devils Player To Watch: Cory Schneider will start in net for the Devils, per Tom Gulitti of The Record. The former Boston College star has played in 53 games this season, tied for the most of any goaltender and two more than Bruins starter Tuukka Rask. Schneider is 22-23-5 with a 2.22 goals against average and a .926 save percentage this campaign. He’s 0-2-0 with a .907 save percentage in two starts versus Boston.

Key Stat For Bruins: Boston has dominated puck possession with a 54.8 Corsi-for percentage at 5-on-5 over the last five games. As a result of controlling nearly 55 percent of even-strength shot attempts, the Bruins are creating more than enough scoring chances to score goals. The problem is a lack of finish, which was the sole reason for Tuesday’s loss to the Canucks.

Key Stat For Devils: New Jersey ranks 28th in goals scored at 2.2 per game. Mike Cammalleri and Adam Henrique lead the Devils in scoring with just 31 points each, and the Devils have scored two goals or fewer in six of their last nine games.

The rumor mill is churning with the March 2 NHL trade deadline less than two weeks away.

The action already has begun with the Leafs and Predators completing a trade Sunday that saw defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli, two of the most coveted rental players, going from Toronto to Nashville. The Leafs received a 2015 first-round draft pick, veteran forward Olli Jokinen and a prospect.

The uncertainty of the salary cap’s future and hesitation to trade first-round picks because of the extraordinary talent/depth in the 2015 draft will make deals difficult, but we should still expect to see plenty of movement between now and the deadline.

Here’s an overview of the top players for playoff contenders to target ahead of the deadline.

Forwards

Player, Team: Antoine Vermette, Arizona CoyotesPosition: Center/WingerAge: 32Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $3.75 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Vermette is a versatile two-way forward with the ability to provide scoring production at center or as a winger. He’s also an excellent penalty killer and regularly ranks among the top faceoff men in the league. Even though Vermette could fill a second-line role for a contender, he’s best suited as a third-line forward.

Player, Team: Daniel Winnik, Toronto Maple LeafsPosition: Center Left WingAge: 29Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $1.3 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Winnik is a high-energy player who can provide depth scoring, leadership and make a huge difference on the penalty kill. He’s very good defensively and makes the smart, simple plays. His low cap hit also makes him an attractive option for contending teams.

Player, Team: Chris Stewart, Buffalo SabresPosition: Right WingAge: 27Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $4.15 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Stewart has underachieved this season from a goal scoring perspective, but in fairness, it hasn’t been easy to generate offense in Buffalo this season. He does have the ability to score goals and being surrounded with more creative players would certainly benefit him. Stewart also plays the heavy, power-forward style of hockey that is suited for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Player, Team: Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple LeafsPosition: CenterAge: 28Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $4.2 million, signed through 2017-18What He Brings: Bozak is a third-line center on most teams, but he’s being paid like a top-six forward. He’s capable of tallying anywhere between 45-60 points in a full season, but that’s only if a true goal scorer is on his wing. For example, Bozak’s scoring production when he’s not playing alongside Phil Kessel is astoundingly low.

Tyler Bozak has played 674 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey in his career without Phil Kessel on his wing. He has 3 goals and 8 assists.

Player, Team: Matt Beleskey, Anaheim DucksPosition: Left WingAge: 27Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $1.35 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Beleskey is one of two 20-goal scorers on the Ducks, but he’s been plagued by inconsistency and much of his success this season can be attributed to his abnormally high shooting percentage. If the Ducks aren’t able to work out an extension with Beleskey, trading him for help on the blue line would make a lot of sense. He would be able to help a contending team with his excellent shot, power-play skill and willingness to play a physical game.

Beleskey is battling an injury right now, but he’s expected to recover before the playoffs.

Player, Team: Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey DevilsPosition: Left WingAge: 42Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $5.5 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Jagr leads the Devils in scoring with 29 points, but he probably wouldn’t receive top-six minutes on a contending team. He’s still able to provide depth scoring, create chances on the power play and add playoff experience, but his high cap hit could make the Czech legend difficult to move. The Boston Bruins acquired Jagr before the deadline in 2013 and he failed to score a single goal during their run to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. His lack of speed makes him a bad fit for contenders who prefer an uptempo game, such as the Montreal Canadiens.

Player, Team: Curtis Glencross, Calgary FlamesPosition: Left WingAge: 32Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $2.5 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Glencross is a smooth-skating winger who could provide depth scoring to a contending team’s second or third line. He’d also give a contender additional offensive skill for the power play (16 power-play goals since 2010-11). Glencross ranks third among Flames forwards in goals-for percentage (57.41) and has respectable possession numbers for a player on the 28th-ranked team in Corsi-for percentage at even strength.

The Flames are currently in a playoff spot, but if the two sides are unable to reach an extension, it would be wise to acquire an asset(s) for the veteran forward.

Player, Team: Sean Bergenheim, Florida PanthersPosition: Right WingAge: 31Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $2.75 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Bergenheim is a veteran forward capable of adding depth scoring, toughness and valuable playoff experience to a contender. He’s also been to be a quality puck possession for the Panthers and ranks 15th among all forwards with a 57.7 scoring chance-for percentage.

As the chart below shows, Bergenheim has excelled in several areas this season and is one of the most underrated players available at the deadline.

Player, Team: Jiri Tlusty, Carolina HurricanesPosition: Center/Left WingAge: 26Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $2.95 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Tlusty has an expiring contract and the Hurricanes need to improve their position for the draft lottery, so don’t be surprised if the veteran forward is moved before the deadline. Tlusty is able to play both center and left wing and could provide goal scoring to a contending team’s third line. He averaged 18.6 goals over the previous three seasons.

Player, Team: Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple LeafsPosition: Right WingAge: 26Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $8 million, UFA in 2022What He Brings: Kessel is an elite offensive player with five 30-goal seasons on his resume. He’s also an underrated playmaker, plays with top-end speed and excels on the power play. His playoff resume (21 points in 22 games) is impressive, too.

Dave Nonis tells Hockey Central at Noon that he's had "a number" of trade conversations with other teams on Kessel.

The problem with moving Kessel is his salary cap hit. Not many teams have $8 million in cap space or the assets it would take for Toronto to make a fair deal for a superstar forward signed long term. Kessel’s contract makes him a better player to move at the draft rather than the trade deadline because teams will have more cap flexibility in the summer.

Defensemen

Player, Team: Andrej Sekera, Carolina HurricanesAge: 29Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $2.75 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Sekera is a very good top-four defenseman with a strong two-way game, enough offensive skill to provide depth scoring on the back end and the ability to play on both special teams units. He also has the puck-moving ability teams covet at this time of the campaign. The Hurricanes have controlled more than 50 percent of even-strength shot attempts with Sekera on the ice this season. As the chart below shows, Sekera is capable of playing a top-pairing position if needed.

Player, Team: Jeff Petry, Edmonton OilersAge: 27Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $3.1 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: The Leafs trading Franson was a huge win for the Oilers because it means they have arguably the top right-handed defenseman to dangle at the deadline. Lots of teams are in need of a player with a right-hand shot who can play 20-plus minutes each night and drive puck possession in a second-pairing role. Petry is that type of player.

Player, Team: Zbynek Michalek, Arizona CoyotesAge: 32Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $4 million, UFA in 2015What He Brings: Michalek isn’t going to provide a ton of scoring (eight points in 53 games this season), but he excels defensively in his own end, has good mobility and possesses a powerful right-hand shot that teams covet. Michalek also is capable of logging a ton of ice time against quality competition.

Player, Team: Keith Yandle, Arizona CoyotesAge: 27Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $5.25 million, UFA in 2016What He Brings: Yandle is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league and leads Arizona with 40 points. He would add excellent speed/mobility, the skill to quarterback a power play, a heavy shot from the point and the ability to play 20-plus minutes per game. The Boston native is one of the few first-pairing D-men for teams to target at the deadline.

Yandle has another year remaining on his contract and isn’t a rental, so the Coyotes aren’t likely to trade him unless a team offers significant value.

Player, Team: Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple LeafsAge: 29Salary Cap Hit, Contract Term: $7 million, UFA in 2021What He Brings: Much like his teammate Phil Kessel, Phaneuf isn’t easy to move because of the term and high salary cap hit with his contract. He’s best suited as a second-pairing defenseman who can be sheltered with offensive zone starts and power-play ice time, but in Toronto, he’s played No. 1 minutes against top competition. Phaneuf has a heavy shot, plays a physical game and could play 25-plus minutes per game if needed. He’d be a strong addition to any team that could make the salaries involved fit.

Elias became the 91st player in NHL history to score 400 goals. His 400th tally came during the second period of New Jersey’s 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Elias beat Leafs goaltender James Reimer blocker side with an excellent wrist shot.

BOSTON — The Bruins played one of their best games of the season Thursday night in a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden.

The B’s dominated in just about every facet of the game and earned a 43-14 shots on goal edge as a result. The victory extends Boston’s point streak to six games, and it’s just the team’s second win in the last half of a back-to-back this season.

Here are four takeaways from Thursday’s big victory.

1. Bruins Earning More Power Plays
Boston has ranked at the bottom of the NHL in power-play opportunities all season, but it has earned quite a few in the last couple games.

The Bruins had five total power plays in the three previous contests entering Thursday, and they had three against the Devils, all in the first period. Boston even had 1:08 of 5-on-3 power-play time in the opening period, but it failed to register a shot on goal.

The B’s received a late first-period power play when Jaromir Jagr held Chris Kelly in the neutral zone while the two battled for possession of the puck. Milan Lucic snapped a nine-game goal-less drought with a power-play tally shortly after, with Zdeno Chara setting a good net-front screen in front of Devils goalie Cory Schneider.

The Bruins still rank 30th in power-play attempts with 97, but their success with the man advantage over the last few weeks (one power-play goal in six of the last nine games) is encouraging.

2. Bruins Dominated Puck Possession
The Bruins had a 25-6 shot attempt edge in the first period, and they controlled puck possession by such a wide margin that the Devils weren’t able to try a single shot in the final 10:47 of the opening frame. Zero Bruins had a negative Corsi at even strength in the first 20 minutes.

1st Period Shot Attempts

The Bruins had a 39-19 shot attempt edge through two periods and finished with a 68-36 advantage overall (59-32 in favor of Boston during 5-on-5 play). Every Bruins player was on the ice for more shots for than against, except Gregory Campbell. Torey Krug led all B’s with a plus-16 Corsi at even strengths (20 shots for, four against).

A strong forecheck, winning puck battles along the walls and cleaner, quicker breakouts all contributed to the Bruins winning the possession battle and setting a season-low in shots on goal against (14).

3. Claude Julien Uses Different Lines
The Milan Lucic-Patrice Bergeron-Daniel Paille line played well in Wednesday’s win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, so Julien kept the trio intact Thursday.

Rookie right winger David Pastrnak played alongside David Krejci and Brad Marchand on the top line, while Reilly Smith took injured Loui Eriksson‘s spot at right wing on the third line with Carl Soderberg and Chris Kelly. The Bruins’ fourth line consisted of Jordan Caron, Gregory Campbell and Craig Cunningham. It played well and had a few good attacking-zone shifts. Most importantly for the Bruins, the fourth line wasn’t out-shot at even strength, which allowed Julien to roll four lines and keep all 12 forwards fresh.

“I’m not going to change anything until I feel the need to change things,” Julien said. “But (Paille) is skating as good as I’ve seen him skate so far this year. He seemed energized, and (Lucic) is finding his game again. So that line’s been good for us, and the other lines, too, are good.

“(Krejci) is playing with different players, trying to find him some players that have chemistry with him, and (Marchand) has had some. Pastrnak, his skating tonight put their D’s on their heels. I thought four lines, six D’s did a great job for us tonight in winning this hockey game.”

Julien doesn’t change up his lines too often, but injuries and different players entering the lineup forced him to try some new combos. For the most part, Julien pushed the right buttons, and it’ll be interesting to see how he configures his lineup Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Caron showed enough to earn another game, as did Cunningham. The Kelly-Soderberg-Smith line also played a strong two-way game and helped create Boston’s second goal.

4. Cory Schneider Played Well Given the Circumstances
Schneider gave the Devils a chance to win with 40 saves on 42 shots (36 for 37 at even strength) for a .952 save percentage. The Bruins did a great job of establishing a net-front presence and creating traffic in and around the crease, but Schneider remained composed and still was able to locate the puck and stop it.

The former Boston College netminder also bailed out his teammates after defensive breakdowns, including one that allowed Soderberg to fire two wrist shots from the low slot, both of which were stopped by Schneider.

BOSTON — The Bruins have returned to TD Garden, where they will play four of their next five games and own a 12-6-4 record.

The next test is Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils, and Boston is expected to use a similar lineup to the one we saw in Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The only notable change should be rookie winger David Pastrnak’s insertion into the lineup. He has played in five games for Boston this season with one assist and 14 shots on goal.

Tuukka Rask might make his second consecutive start in net for the Bruins. He made 37 saves on 39 shots Wednesday night.

The Devils are aiming for their first three-game win streak since the beginning of the season. They’ve lost 10 of their last 14 games and were defeated 4-2 in the first meeting between these teams Nov. 10 at TD Garden.

New Jersey ranks 27th in the NHL in goals scored per game and 20th in goals against average, and even though its penalty kill has been OK this season, the unit has given up a power-play goal in three consecutive games.

Talented Devils rookie defenseman Damon Severson won’t play Thursday because of a fractured left ankle. Former Boston College star Cory Schneider will start in net for the Devils. He’s 14-18-4 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.

The next challenge for the Bruins is playing well in the second game of a back-to-back, a situation Boston is 1-5-1 in this season. Luckily for the Bruins, they are playing a Devils team that has lost 10 of its last 14 games and is using three coaches after firing bench boss Pete DeBoer on Dec. 26.

Bruins Player To Watch: Rookie forward David Pastrnak played well for the Czech Republic at the 2015 World Junior Championship with seven points in five games and leads the Providence Bruins (AHL) in scoring with 24 points in 27 games. He was recalled to Boston on Tuesday and is expected to enter the B’s lineup against the Devils.

Pastrnak likely will play a top-six role, possibly alongside David Krejci on Boston’s top line. As a player with great speed who’s also willing to shoot often, Pastrnak is the perfect type of right winger for an elite playmaker such as Krejci.

The Bruins have been searching for a first-line right winger ever since Jarome Iginla left in free agency over the summer, and Pastrnak should be the latest player auditioned for this spot. That said, he can only play in four more games before the Bruins must decide to burn the first year of his entry-level contract or send him back to the AHL for the remainder of the campaign.

Devils Player To Watch: Jaromir Jagr became the oldest NHL player (age 42) to record a hat trick last week against the Philadelphia Flyers, and he has five points (four goals, one assists) in his last five games. He also leads the Devils in scoring with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) through 41 games. Jagr scored against his former Bruins teammates when these teams met in Boston on Nov. 10.

Key Stat For Bruins: Boston ranks fourth in the league with a 53.2 faceoff percentage. Patrice Bergeron (59.2), David Krejci (54.3) and Gregory Campbell (53.4) lead the Bruins in FO percentage among forwards who’ve taken 300-plus draws.

Bergeron led the way in Wednesday’s win with a 20-for-30 mark on draws, including 7-for-8 on special teams. The Devils rank 25th in faceoffs with a 47.9 win percentage, so expect the B’s to dominate this area of the game Thursday.

Key Stat For Devils: The Devils are not a good third-period team. They have given up 44 goals in the final period (sixth-most in the league) and own a third-period goal differential of minus-16. New Jersey is 2-16-1 when trailing after two periods.

Bortuzzo drew the ire of the New Jersey Devils earlier this month when he delivered a cheap shot on Devils winger Jaromir Jagr. The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman, who said after that game that he was “OK” with his hit, was slapped with a two-game suspension, but Tootoo decided to add a bit of his own justice.

Tootoo challenged, and proceeded to pound, Bortuzzo twice in the second period of Monday’s 3-1 Devils win.

Neither Tootoo nor Bortuzzo registered a point in the contest, but Jagr did, netting the eventual game-winning goal shortly after the second bout.

Photos via Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports Images

Photo of the night

Seth Griffith just found his new profile picture.

Photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images

Tweet of the night

Jim Harbaugh will be wearing his khakis in a colder climate next season.

Peter DeBoer has become the third NHL head coach to be fired during the 2014-15 season.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports the New Jersey Devils have parted ways with DeBoer, who helped lead the team on an improbable run to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Kings.

DeBoer finishes his Devils tenure with a record of 114-93-41. New Jersey missed the playoffs in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and the club appears headed for another season without postseason hockey. The Devils are 12-17-7 and sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division. They rank 29th in goals scored per game and 19th in goals against average.

The team’s poor performance isn’t all DeBoer’s fault. He was given a roster made up of several veterans past the age of 30 who are well beyond the prime of their careers. In fact, New Jersey is the oldest team in the league.

The Devils also lost superstar wingers Zach Parise (free agency) and Ilya Kovalchuk (retirement) soon after the 2012 playoffs.

New Jersey hasn’t drafted well since the 2004-05 lockout, either. Forward Adam Henrique and defensemen Mark Fayne and Damon Severson are among a select few quality draft picks made by the Devils in that span.

Thumbnail photo via Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports Images

Filed under: New Jersey Devils, NHL, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/12/report-new-jersey-devils-fire-head-coach-peter-deboer/feed/00DeBoernesnngossScreen Shot 2014-12-26 at 1.07.13 PMRobert Bortuzzo Suspended Two Games For ‘Violent Hit’ On Jaromir Jagr (Video)http://nesn.com/2014/12/nhl-suspends-robert-bortuzzo-two-games-for-violent-hit-on-jaromir-jagr-video/
http://nesn.com/2014/12/nhl-suspends-robert-bortuzzo-two-games-for-violent-hit-on-jaromir-jagr-video/#commentsWed, 03 Dec 2014 22:55:04 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=420346]]>The NHL suspended Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo two games Wednesday for a late hit on New Jersey Devils forward Jaromir Jagr during Tuesday’s game at Consol Energy Center.

In its video explanation of the ruling, the Department of Player Safety used terms such as “extreme lateness” and “predatory nature” for a hit that resulted in “significant head contact.”

Jagr left Tuesday’s game as a result of the hit and didn’t return. His status for New Jersey’s next game is uncertain.

Jaromir Jagr did not come to practice rink with team. Pete DeBoer says he's still worried about Jagr injury. nj.com/devils

Bortuzzo absolutely demolished 42-year-old Jaromir Jagr during the Penguins’ 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Bortuzzo, who is 17 years Jagr’s junior, wasn’t penalized, but the blue-liner still could face discipline for the late hit.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced late Tuesday night that Bortuzzo will have a hearing at a date and time TBD.

BOSTON — The Bruins will need to mix up their lines a little bit with first-line center David Krejci not able to play Monday night against the New Jersey Devils.

Chris Kelly should go back to the top line alongside wingers Milan Lucic and Seth Griffith, while Matt Fraser probably will skate in Kelly’s spot on the third line with Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson.

Devils forward Mike Cammalleri is expected to return to the lineup after missing the last six games with an upper body injury, per NJ.com. He leads the Devils with five goals in just eight games.

Cammalleri’s linemate Jaromir Jagr still is playing at a high level despite being 42 years old. The Czech forward is tied for the team lead in scoring with nine points and leads all Devils players with seven assists.

“Yeah, he’s the energizer bunny isn’t he?” Julien said . “He just changes his batteries every year and he’s good for another year. Same old, same old. Still as strong and protects that puck so well, and you look at him, and he still has the ability to make those nice plays.”

Cory Schneider will start for the Devils, and Tuukka Rask is expected to be in net for Boston after being the first goalie to exit the ice following the morning skate.

The Marblehead, Mass., native played at the Garden several times during his three years at Boston College from 2004-05 through 2006-07 and attended games as a fan of the Bruins growing up.

He will start for the New Jersey Devils against the B’s on Monday night, and a lot of people in the crowd will be cheering for him.

“I got a lot of people coming,” Schneider said after New Jersey’s morning skate.

“A lot of friends and family. I live here in the offseason, so obviously I know the city pretty well. I played here a lot in college, Beanpot and Hockey East tournament, so it’s a fun building with a lot of good memories.”

Despite making his NHL debut during the 2008-09 campaign, Schneider has only made one regular-season start against the Bruins at TD Garden. That was the exhilarating Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Bruins and Vancouver Canucks On Jan. 7, 2012. The Canucks won 4-3, and B’s forwards Milan Lucic (leaving the bench) and Brad Marchand (clipping) were both ejected.

“This is only my second regular season game in Boston,” Schneider said. “It’s crazy, I’ve been in the league five or six years, and this is only my second regular-season game. It’s still a pretty new experience for me.”

As a Hockey East alum, Schneider is happy that the conference has so many great players this season, several of whom — including Jack Eichel of Boston University and Noah Hanifin of Boston College — are expected to be selected in the top five of the 2015 NHL draft.

“I remember back around my draft time, there was (Jonathan) Toews and (Phil) Kessel going high, and Erik Johnson,” Schneider said. “Guys who were real good players towards the top of the draft. There’s been a bit of a lull in terms of those kinds of players. But it seems this year there are going to be some good ones.

The assist gave Jagr 1,756 career points, one ahead of Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman.

Jagr could move into fifth place soon as he’s just 14 points away from Los Angeles Kings Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne. Four more tallies would move the 42-year-old into fifth place on the all-time goals scored list.

The Czech winger led the Devils in scoring with 67 points (24 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games during the 2013-14 campaign.

Have a Bruins/NHL question for Nick Goss? Send it to him via Twitter at @NickGossNESN

Filed under: New Jersey Devils, NHL, Nicholas Goss, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/10/jaromir-jagr-moves-into-sixth-place-on-nhls-all-time-scoring-list-video/feed/001398901711_jagrnesnngossAdam Henrique’s Last-Minute Goal Powers Devils To Win Over Rangers (Video)http://nesn.com/2014/09/adam-henriques-last-minute-goal-powers-devils-to-win-over-rangers-video/
http://nesn.com/2014/09/adam-henriques-last-minute-goal-powers-devils-to-win-over-rangers-video/#commentsTue, 23 Sep 2014 13:25:00 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=390601]]>The New Jersey Devils scored both in the opening minute and the closing minute of Monday’s preseason game against the New York Rangers.

Reid Boucher got the Devils on the board just 59 seconds into the game and Michael Ryder added a tally of his own later in the first period to double their lead, but New Jersey saw its advantage slip away in the final 20 minutes of play.

The Rangers rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the third period, as Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast scored just two and a half minutes apart to tie it up. Their comeback didn’t last long, though, as Adam Henrique buried the puck through traffic with 51.7 seconds remaining, beating Cam Talbot stick-side.

It was an exciting last-minute win (literally) despite it being a preseason game.

Thumbnail image via USA TODAY Sports Images/Andy Marlin

Filed under: New Jersey Devils, NHL, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/09/adam-henriques-last-minute-goal-powers-devils-to-win-over-rangers-video/feed/00USATSI_8100673 (1)nesnrdubiloNHL Preview 2014-15: Breaking Down All 30 Teams In 30 Dayshttp://nesn.com/2014/09/nhl-preview-2014-15-breaking-down-all-30-teams-in-30-days/
http://nesn.com/2014/09/nhl-preview-2014-15-breaking-down-all-30-teams-in-30-days/#commentsWed, 10 Sep 2014 15:01:15 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=384944]]>The 2014-15 NHL season is fast approaching, so NESN.com will preview all 30 teams before the puck drops for real next month.

Each preview will include a list of notable additions and departures, biggest strengths, most glaring weaknesses, a player to watch and the expectation for the team’s 2014-15 campaign. The series will conclude Oct. 8 with a massive Boston Bruins preview ahead of their season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.

Check out the schedule to find out when your favorite team’s preview will be published. It is subject to change.